RNLAF Goes Dutch With Olympics

The Netherlands is opening up part of its military airspace to alleviate the surge in civilian air traffic during the London Olympics and Paralympics. The Dutch Ministry of Defense is opening a civilian air corridor in central and eastern North Brabant, the southernmost province of the Netherlands bordering Belgium where F-16s usually exercise.

Dutch Ministry of Defense photo

The ministry expects air traffic to nearly double during the Olympics and Paralympics, from 2,000 to 3,850 flights. Of the extra 1,850 flights, 1,000 will be by business jets, 700 by commercial aircraft and 150 for VIPs.

The F-16s will exercise over other parts of the Netherlands, like Leeuwarden and the North Sea. In addition, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has set up a liaison in Eurocontrol's Maastricht Upper Area Control Centre.

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